Card-index file.



w. :T. FIELD.

OABD' INDEX FILE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED J AHJ, 1910.

980,234, Patented Jan. 3,1911.

[111742177511 mlf r T 778/# WALTER T. FIELD, OF HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

CARD-INDEX FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed January 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVALTER T. FIELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hinsdale, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Index Files,of which the following is a specification.

Card index files of the ordinary type are in the form of boxes ordrawers which are designed to fit within specially constructed cabinetsadapted to receive a large number of files and which frequently occupyconsiderable space in an office or library. This is especially true inlarge libraries where a card index is used for the purpose ofclassifying the books.

The object of the present invention is to construct a file which willfurnish a perfect receptacle for a large number of index cards, andwhich will resemble a closed book in shape and general appearance, sothat the file can be placed on a book shelf with the books of a libraryand be indistinguishable in general appearance from the books. Thispermits individual index files to be located in proximity to theparticular library books to which the index refers, and obviates thenecessity of employing specially constructed cabinets or the like forholding the files. By attaching to a fileof the present construction aninscription designating the subject matter contained therein, asystematic arrangement of a number of files can be accomplished, whichwill have the appearance of a set of books. These can be arranged inorder upon a shelf or table and add to the general appearance of theoffice. Files of such construction have a further advantage in that theyare more easily handled than files of a bulky boxlike construction.

The index file of the present invention furthermore is peculiarlyadapted for use in that it may either be stored upon a shelf or set upona desk, being rigid or self-supporting in construction and adapted tomaintain an upright position, either on its end when it is stored away,or upon its inner edge when resting upon a desk or table. the mainobject being to construct a file which will be adapted to varyingconditions and to the general arrangements of offices, libraries, orhomes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the file when closed; Fig.2, a perspective showing the cover thrown back; and Fig. 3,

a cross section of the file when closed, with the cards in place.

The file consists of a base 4 and side walls 5 and 6, the base being ofa proportion to enable the file to be self-supporting and to maintain anupright position at all times when placed upon a flat surface. The wall(3 is cut away as at 7 to leave the necessary opening for themanipulation of the cards. The file is provided with end walls 8 and 9,which may be finished on the outside to represent the edges of leaves ina book. The cover 10 is preferably'of a solid construction and has itsupper surface slightly rounded as at 11 to present the appearance of theback of a book. Attached to said cover is a strip of fabric 12 which hasone end 13 secured to the side wall 5 of the file and the other end 14secured to a covering or flap 15 of equal dimensions with the side 6 ofthe file, which it overlies when the file is closed, thereby preventingdust from entering the opening 7 and settling on the cards on theinterior of the file. A plurality of filing cards 16 are positioned inthe interior of the file, the shape and arrangement of the cardsdepending on the nature of the work which the filing system isaccomplishing.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the construction offile has all of the properties for a complete and practical card indexfile. It is provided with a firm and substantial foundation, so thatwhen the cover is thrown back there will be no danger of tipping over;that the method of connecting the cover and flap together enables thesetwo members to be thrown back, thus exposing the upper faces of thecards, which is of material advantage in examining the cards.

I claim:

1. In a card index file, the combination of a receptacle for cards,having bottom, side and end walls of a proportion to make the fileself-supporting and enable it to maintain an upright position, and acover for said receptacle, hinged at one side to one of the side wallsand hinged at the other side to a flap adapted to contact and overliethe other side wall and extending to the lower edge of the file, wherebythe file presents, when in closed position, a series of smooth facesfrom edge to edge thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a card index file, the combination of a self-supporting receptaclefor cards, having bottom, side and end walls of a proportion to enableit to maintain an upright posi tion, the outside of the file beingfinished to represent the surfaces of a closed book, one of the sidewalls being cut away at its upper portion, and a cover for saidreceptacle, hinged at one side to the unbroken side wall of the casingand hinged at the other side to a flap adapted to contact and overliethe side wall having its upper portion cut away, said flap extending tothe lower edge of the file, whereby the file presents, when in closedcondition, a series of continuous surfaces e vtending from edge to edgethereof, sub st-antially as described. i

3. In a card index file, the combination of a self-supporting receptaclefor cards, having bottom, side and end walls of a proportion to enableit to maintain an upright position, the outside of the file beingfinished to represent the surfaces of a closed book, one of the sidewalls being cut away at its upper portion, and a cover for saidreceptacle, having its upper face rounded, and hinged at one side to theunbroken side wall of the casing and at the other side to a flap adaptedto overlie and contact the side wall having its upper portion cut away,said flap extending to the lower edge of the file,

whereby the file presents, when in closed position, a series ofcontinuous surfaces extending from edge to edge thereof, substantiallyas described.

,1; In a card index file, the combination of a self-supportingreceptacle for cards, having bottom, side and end walls of a proportionto enable the file to maintain an upright position when supported uponone end or upon its bottom, the outside of the file being finished torepresent the surface of a closed book, one of the side walls being cutaway at its upper portion to expose the cards within the file, a coverfor said receptacle, having its outer face rounded, a strip of flexiblematerial serving to hinge the cover to the edge of the uncut side wall,a flap adapted to contact and overlie the cut away side wall, said flapextending to the lower edge of the file, whereby the file presents, whenin closed position, a series of continuous surfaces from edge to edgethereof and a strip of flexible material serving to hinge the flap tothe free edge of the cover, substantially as described.

XVALTER T. FIELD.

lVitnessrs MARY It. Fnosr, SAMUEL W. BANNING.

